September 2, 2015 Minutes

MINUTES of CTAC of Hamden, New Haven and West Haven

Meeting Date: September 2, 2015

Call to order: A regular monthly meeting of CTAC was held at CTV Offices at 843 State Street, New Haven, Connecticut, on Wednesday, September 2, 2015.  President Tad Weinstein presiding. Don Levy Secretary. Meeting called to order at 6:03.

Members in attendance:

Tad Weinstein, Chair (WH)

George Alexander, Treasurer (H)

Babz Rawls Ivy (NH)

Don Levy, Secretary (H)

Johnes Ruta (NH)

Steve Gemmell, Local Manager, Field Operations, Frontier Communications

 

The newest board member, Babz Rawls Ivy, attended the meeting and introductions were exchanged.

The minutes for the August meeting as corrected were approved.

The board discussed the delay in overcoming the legal, financial and technical hurdles which have made it impossible for Frontier cable subscribers to access programs produced by CTV. Steve Gemmell of Frontier indicated that he had anticipated being able to discuss how to overcome these problems with Joe Schofield prior to or immediately after the CTAC meetings which Steve attends. Board members noted that Mr. Schofield had not attended a CTAC monthly meeting in a number of months. Members were given a letter from Mr. Schofield explaining that his absence at the CTAC meetings was caused by a scheduling conflict. Members asked Mr. Gemmell to reach out to Mr. Schofield and Mr. Gemmell promised to call Mr. Schofield to get the ball rolling on Thursday, September 3.

The board passed a motion asking the Secretary to send a letter to the CTV board requesting that a representative of CTV be present at each of our meetings.

Mr. Gemmell presented the Frontier report highlighting the company’s service projects in the each of the municipalities represented by the CTAC board. The report also noted that Frontier is boosting the internet speeds for its customers at no additional charge. Frontier is still looking to hire new employees for several positions. Job applicants are advised to research current Frontier openings and to apply online at the Frontier web site

Comcast was not represented at the meeting but its representative submitted a report outlining COMCAST’s service to the local communities including a $25-thousand grant which will be awarded to the Urban League of Southern Connecticut.

Secretary Levy provided a first draft of an announcement for the CTAC’s upcoming Pubic Service Video Grant program. He sought a volunteer to produce the actual online grant application form but no volunteers came forward. Levy indicated he would contact the Arts Council of New Haven to seek its input on promoting the grant program. Chairman Weinstein reiterated his call to ask members to seek candidates in their municipalities to fill empty board seats.

The May regular meeting of CTAC was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by D. Levy, CTAC secretary